Chrysanthemum plant named `Empire Rhapsody`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Empire Rhapsody particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; dark red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 50 to 55 mm when fully opened; spreading branching pattern; natural season flower date of August 27 to 29 when planting rooted cuttings on June 17 to 18 in Salinas, Calif., and September 20 to 26 when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to 21 in Hightstown, N.J.; plant height of 23 to 28 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Empire Rhapsody.

Empire Rhapsody, identified as 9804 (D91-1), was originated from a crossmade by the inventor the inventor Janet S. Fuess in a controlledbreeding program in New Hartford N.Y. in October 1990.

The female parent of Empire Rhapsody was the cultivar identified asEmpire Symphony, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,782, and describedas a purple decorative garden mum.

The male parent of Empire Rhapsody was an unnamed seedling, identifiedas C87-61, and described as a red daisy garden mum.

Empire Rhapsody was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross by Janet S. Fuess in September1991 in New Hartford, N.Y.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Empire Rhapsody wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in October 1991 in a controlled environment in New Hartford,N.Y. by Janet S. Fuess.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Empire Rhapsody are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Empire Rhapsody has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in controlled open areas in Salinas, Calif., and in Hightstown,N.J. Rooted cuttings were established in soil and maintained outdoorsunder the natural temperature and daylength prevailing during Junethrough October.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Empire Rhapsody, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. Dark red-purple ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 50 to 55 mm when fully opened.

5. Branching pattern is spreading.

6. Natural season flower date of August 27 to 29 when planting rootedcuttings on June 17 and 18 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 20 to 26when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to June 21 in Hightstown, N.J.

7. Plant height of 23 to 28 cm when grown in fall under naturaldaylength with no growth regulators.

8. Durable, uniform performance.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Empire Rhapsody, with the colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Empire Rhapsody grown in natural seasonoutside conditions in Salinas, Calif.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Empire Rhapsody.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Empire Rhapsody at 3 stages of development(mature, intermediate and immature). In sheets 2 and 3 a measuring tapein centimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Empire Rhapsody is the cultivar identified as Debonair,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,324. Reference is made to attachedChart A, which compares certain characteristics of Empire Rhapsody tothe same characteristics of Debonair.

Similar traits are capitulum form and type, and branching pattern. Thenatural season flower date of Empire Rhapsody and Debonair in Salinas,Calif. is comparable. Empire Rhapsody has a dark red-purple ray floretcolor (R.H.S. 64A), while Debonair has a purple ray floret color. EmpireRhapsody has a smaller diameter of capitulum, an earlier natural seasonflower date in Hightstown, N.J. and a shorter plant height when comparedwith Debonair.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched garden mum grown outdoors in Salinas,Calif. on Aug. 23, 1994.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Empire Rhapsody.

Commercial.--Flat decorative garden mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--50 to 55 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Darkred-purple.

Color (upper surface).--64A.

Color (under surface)--80C to 81D.

Shape.--Flat, straight, with medium length of corolla tube. The rayfloret tip is rounded.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--6B.

Color (immature).--6B tinged with 151D.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant to no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--23 to 28 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with nogrowth regulators.

Branching pattern.--Spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Very deeply lobed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        Characteristic  Empire Rhapsody                                                                            Debonair                                         ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                              Dark red-    purple                                           Capitulum form  Flat         Flat                                             and type        Decorative   Decorative                                       Diameter across face                                                                          50 to 55 mm  64 to 70 mm                                      of capitulum                                                                  Branching pattern                                                                             Spreading    Spreading                                        Natural season flower date:                                                   in Salinas, CA  Aug 27 to 29 Aug 26 to 31                                     in Hightstown, NJ                                                                             Sep 20 to 26 Sep 24 to 30                                     Plant height:   23 to 28 cm  30 to 38 cm                                      COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN                                              UNDER NATURAL SEASON OUTDOOR                                                  CONDITIONS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                             AND IN HIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY                                                 ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named EmpireRhapsody, as described and illustrated.